Can blood type predict your risk for heart disease? Maybe...

Updated:Oct 16,2012

If you have type A, B or AB blood, you may have a higher risk for heart disease than those with type O.

In a recent study, people with the rarest blood type — AB — were 23 percent more likely to have heart disease. Those with type B had an 11 percent increased risk, and those with type A had a 5 percent increased risk.

About 7 percent of the U.S. population is AB and about 43 percent have type O.

The findings may help physicians better understand who’s at risk for developing heart disease and could help them better tailor treatments for patients.

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